[cathycnm]

#1072100

Billyb – There are probably body-mind elements to every illness on the planet. There is also genetics. I see it as our genetics being our hardware and our environment being our software. I don’t believe I have any past unhidden traumas that caused this, though. I do think I tend to take on lots of responsibility – and that this trait may be more common than not in Graves pts. I also have thyroid disease in the family – mom had Graves and my sis has hypo. I think it takes a combo of genetics in the right environment for any disease to fester. I also have a lot of stomach cancer in my family – so it would be crazy for me to smoke, drink and eat fat and think I was doing myself any favors. I think we are all need to be smart about our genetic vulnerabilities and to choose environments that do not promote those. I also do not think Graves is something I chose to manifest. I have seen some life coaches (and I have some training in that area) who go way out on a limb to say people choose this and I simply do not agree. I think we can clearly see genetic predispositions and familial patterns. I would hate to make someone feel they are being blamed for having Graves. C

[Ski]

#1072101

Stress can definitely play a part as at least one trigger involved in getting Graves’ Disease. Unfortunately, while we are hyperthyroid, we do not have time to sit back and "work it out," because hyperthyroidism is extremely dangerous. We must at least get started on ATDs in order to stop the onslaught of thyroid hormone, then other things we do (like therapy) may work in our favor and assist our body in achieving remission. We can’t just ignore it and try to "man up" and get better on our own. We risk thyroid storm or heart arrhythmias, either one of which could kill us rapidly. In addition, high thyroid hormone levels left unchecked can damage every single body system. There’s no way any of us have the reasoning power necessary to work through our own emotional issues while we are hyperthyroid. If you’ve felt it, you understand. You must calm the body, correct the imbalance, and then the body can begin to heal. Once levels have been stabilized for some period of time, THEN we can begin to look into our own emotional issues and correct them, because only then are we well enough to try.

Recent research has uncovered one genetic defect that we all share with other autoimmune patients ~ not everyone with the defect has an autoimmune disease, but everyone with an autoimmune disease has the defect. This is at least the beginning of an understanding into the root causes, and also a confirmation that there is a physical component involved within each of us.

[billyb]

#1019507

I was surprised to find no post on psychosomatic illness on this web sight.I think if there is anyone who doesn’t know how they acquired graves or wonder why they feel the way the do they or have no answers for there condition I think it is paramount you research psychosomatic illness because that’s what graves is. That is how I believe I developed this condition.Psychosomatic is a mind and body connection, its how your psychology can manifest as sickness in your body.we all know that stress can cause illness.Graves can be brought on by traumatic experiences,break ups,divorces, a stressful childhood ect… so don’t let doctors throw meds at you maybe counseling and researching your personal past will uncover the source of your graves.

[DianneW]

#1072102

The research on whether Graves’ can be brought on by stress is actually conflicting. Some indicates that it might be and other research indicates that it’s not. It’s known that when people have hyperthyroidism they are hypersensitive to stress, and many people have Graves’ for a long time before they realize it, so it’s possible that people associate the beginnings of their Graves’ Disease with stress simply because they were feeling so much stress at the beginning of the disease. Also, when we’re hyperthyroid the adrenal response is hypersensitive, but additional adrenal hormones behave like prednisone and in theory should help autoimmunity if they were to have any affect on the disease. But that hypersensitive adrenal response will make us feel especially stressed. I remember feeling like my life was in danger every time a dog barked, and from there I became angry. Constantly living with that kind of emotion was pure hell.

Stressful life events are something most people are constantly experiencing. They’re part of being a human being. So many people I know have been through so much more stress than I have, but I’m the one who got Graves’ Disease.

The actual research on the triggers of Graves’ Disease focuses on the genetic susceptibility and the environmental triggers for those who have the genetic defect. According to my understanding, stress isn’t necessarily at the top of the list of what is being looked at for potential triggers.

Severe emotional trauma may be a trigger for Graves’ Disease in some people, but I seriously doubt that simple every day stress is a cause. I believe research is uncovering evidence that there are many different triggers for all the autoimmune disease, including Graves’ Disease.

This is not to say that our mind has no effect on our physical health, because our mind is part of our body and can’t be separated out. Neither can we say that the state of our mind is something separate from the health of the body. Mental disorders are often real organic diseases, and those of us with Graves’ Disease should understand as well as anyone how much changes in physical function affect the mind.

Approaching wellness from all angles (physical, emotional, spiritual) is a reasonable choice, to my way of thinking.

[DianneW]

#1072103

That is how I believe I developed this condition.Psychosomatic is a mind and body connection, its how your psychology can manifest as sickness in your body.we all know that stress can cause illness.Graves can be brought on by traumatic experiences,break ups,divorces, a stressful childhood ect… so don’t let doctors throw meds at you maybe counseling and researching your personal past will uncover the source of your graves

Billy,

I forgot to add that even if your Graves’ Disease WAS triggered by something traumatic that happened to you, that doesn’t mean that you can cure it by psychological counseling. It’s still a very real physical disease and it’s not going to go away unless you treat it. You will need the doctors to "throw some meds at you", in other words—meaning either antithyroid drugs, radioactive iodine, or a thyroidectomy.

You are seeking treatment so you don’t have another thyroid storm, correct?

[mamabear]

#1072104

Graves’ disease can be triggered by many different things.

Mine was triggered the 1st time by getting the Flu. 2nd time by Rotavirus that my youngest boy and I got several years ago, oh that was so not fun.

Graves’ has many triggers, I was going through a bad divorce before my ex and I finally sat down and talked about things then approached the lawyers with OUR decisions(oh they were mad), dealing with my parents who were well lets just say it was bad, and even though I was sick from something else, it wasn’t graves disease.

It wasn’t till after I had had the flu that it came out. So I would agree that there are many things that can make it show it’s ugly head but taking the right med’s and reducing stress and eating right all have a part in it. When your body is doing 140 beats were minute there is no waiting around for it to go away on it’s on and no matter how calm your lifestyle is you need a dr’s help with meds or your heart muscle will weaken.

This is a very real disease and has very real effects on different parts of the body.

[hyperm]

#1072105

I would have to agree strongly with the advice on here that this is a PHYSICAL illness although most definitely results in psychological elements if let untreated. My GD was brought on by the birth of my first little boy. It is a very serious condition and is not something that should be left untreated.

Stress to the body does not always mean psychological stress but also physical stress – like someone mentioned the flu or in my case child birth. I know a lady whose MS was flared up by having extreme sunburn!

It is true that stress is an umbrella term which can result in causing a lot of conditions but I also accept the fact that genetics in my case is the key player. After years of requiring iron injections and B12 for a double aneamia which was life threatening at one point – my mum all of a sudden started to become very ill and it turned out she had heamatomachrosis with a ferratin level of 1088 (normally they couldn’t get it above 4) – all of a sudden this gene kicked in and the GP’s were baffled! We have now all been tested.

[billyb]

#1072106

I know how important the medication is to treatment when I said " throw some drugs at you" I was speaking of my my own experience with all the drugs I was prescribed after my thyroid storm .I was taking 27 pills a day at one point and I know that it was all necessary but my doctors never mentioned counseling or any of the psychological effects that go along with Graves, or having a thyroid storm ,or being 25 years and having to take 27 pills a day for your health. the meds made me feel sick all the time,I felt strong and healthy and having to take several meds made me feel sick. I know its up to me to do my own research and few years prior to the storm I was going through depression over a break up and other personal issues in my life ,during the same period of time I was having a dramatic weight I lost about 80lbs I figured I was losing weight because I was depressed but obviously its was the hyperthyroid,when I was in my darkest hour with depression I was the thinnest Ive ever been. Maybe I have other issues in my life that need to be addressed, but I know that when I was losing weight I was in an deep depression,so I figured there is a connection between the two.I’m not saying that being depressed caused me to get graves, but I believe that being depressed during that period of time contributed to the weight loss. During this period of time I know there was somthing psycosomatic going on because Ive never felt that way before or been in that kind of condition physically.

[DianneW]

#1072107

Billy, cause and effect can be really difficult to sort out. You may have had hyperthyroidism longer than you even know, and it could have been affecting your behavior and possibly even have been a factor in the breakup. That isn’t unusual. It certainly could have been part of the cause of your depression, and no doubt your weight loss. It may take time to sort out what caused what. When you’ve been truly well for a period of time and had time to put everything in perspective, you might have a better idea about all of that.

I went through a breakup before I was diagnosed with Graves’ Disease and at the time I had no idea many of my emotions that led to how I felt about that person when we were still together were caused by my physical health. It was complicated, but my personality is so different than it was for a number of years. Who knows how long I was like that? I definitely had GD well before the breakup, which I understand now that I know what the symptoms are and know what it feels like to be well, but being hyperthyroid magnified all the emotions everyone experiences when going through the grief process that every breakup entails.

What you experience emotionally while hyperthyroid was most likely a result of over-stimulation of your brain by thyroid hormone. You’re correct in thinking there’s a connection, but it’s not your mind causing the physical manifestations as it would be in a psychosomatic disease; it’s completely the other way around.

Usually counseling doesn’t do the most good while patients are still hyperthyroid. What helps the most is to bring down thyroid levels, and then counseling can help for any problems that the patient still needs help with. That’s not to say that there aren’t situations where counseling is a good idea; I don’t mean that. My point is that the mental and emotional problems we are having while hyperthyroid have a real physical cause that is treatable and for the most part has nothing to do with what’s going on in our lives. Graves’ is like your body and brain are a big gas engine and the accelerator is stuck to the floor but the gear shift is stuck in neutral. You’re burning fuel like crazy and making a lot of noise, but going nowhere.

You may have to take a lot of pills at first to keep your thyroid levels down, but in time the number it takes to control your levels are reduced, and you can often drop the beta-blockers and end up taking just a few pills a day, if the number of pills is a big issue to you. I realize that no one likes to have a life-long disease at the age of 25, but I promise you it’s no more fun to have it in your 40’s or 50’s, which arrive much sooner than you think (remember someday that I told you this)!

What I hope you’ll do is to take very good care of yourself so that you can have the best health possible for the rest of your life, and if you do, this disease won’t have to be such a big bother. Just make sure you keep monitoring your levels when you should and don’t ignore symptoms, even if you have to get help from others. It’s important not to ever have a repeat of your last experience.

Best wishes to you,

[hyperm]

#1072108

Hey,

Its true what Dianne is saying as my endo has really helped my hubby through the whole "emotional roller coaster" and highlighted that the divorce rate for people with GD is relatively high. I had depression in the past and after the thyroid storm (yeah most of you were there to support me) I went almost on the verge of "CRAZY!" I called the counsellor I worked with and she highlighted that she had worked with someone with GD from diagnosis to operation and had some understanding of it – however, she highlighted to me that although I would perhaps calm down on the phone to her for an hour – I could put the phone down and off I go again

My endo actually highlighted that yes I was going off my head as my levels were raging and stated that in fact if I had murdered someone while my bloods were like that I would have gotten off ” title=”Wink” /> ” title=”Confused” /> not sure if that was reassuring or not.

Billy you sound as though you are having a rough time and this disease does this too you. Its true that it could have been lurking for a while before it all went off the scale. I was undiagnosed for a year and my marriage was under a terrible strain as I changed personality completely. I was at my GP 4 times saying how ill I felt.My eldest little boy was 10lb 3oz and they kept saying "oh you have just had a big baby etc". The day I went in and said that my eyes were blurring with rage and I was afraid I was going to harm my husband was the day she done a TFT.

Its early days you have just had a terrible shock to your system and the fact (like me )that you are so young and expect more of your body is very frustrating. Its good to have an open mind about body, mind and spirit but in the meantime if you have to take 27 pills to stop you feeling awful and going into another storm – well it would seem a small price to pay. I remember saying I would take poison if it helped.

hang in there and keep posting – you will get tremendous support from everyone here!

M x

[KAM]

#1072109

Thanks for the thread,

My wife was diagnosed a year and a half ago with Graves after being diagnosed with TED. It has been a very rough road which has brought us to the brink of divorce. Hopefully that will be avoided. As a spouse I agree fully that there is a real shortage of information about the pshycological aspects of this disease. To here it explained that it is the opposite of what you think is very helpful. It is a physical disease that manifests itself emotionally. I have no idea but for the grace of God how we will get through this without divorcing. It is getting better little by little each day. Unfortunately time is running out on the clock. It’s time for a Brett Favre like last minute charge down the field for the win with 2 seconds left in regulation. Nothin is over until it’s over.

Kam

[DianneW]

#1072110

Kam,

I hope you and your wife will consider joining us in Charlotte this October for the patient and family Conference. We have support groups for family members that help you process issues like this.

I understand how rough it must be for you. I know how awful I was to the person I broke up with before I knew I had Graves’, and I know how avoidant I was with my family for several years until I was feeling better. It was a really good thing (for my husband) that I waited to get married again for a few years until I was stable.

Yes, GD has psychological manifestations and it’s rough on families and marriages. Divorce isn’t uncommon. Sometimes it’s the patient who initiates it though, only realizing later that the feelings came from the hyperthyroidism. I’ve had husbands of Graves’ patients write to me asking what happened to their wives, and would they ever be who they were before and come home? It’s heart-breaking, especially when kids are involved. The book, "The Thyroid Solution", by Ridha Arem discusses this subject extensively.

Don’t hesitate to get couples counseling with someone who understands what chronic illness can do to a marriage. You can come out of this with a marriage that’s stronger than ever if you want to work at it.

Best wishes,

[hyperm]

#1072111

hey kam – I am going to ask my hubby to read your thread and reply. We have had a really rough time too because of all the roller coaster emotions. My endo helped him by asking how he was and how are the mood swings etc…

M x

[belldandy112]

#1072112

hyperm wrote:Its true what Dianne is saying as my endo has really helped my hubby through the whole "emotional roller coaster" and highlighted that the divorce rate for people with GD is relatively high.

I would concur with that in many ways, friend. I opt not to go into details, because my marital situation during the time I had uncontrollable GD was not very pretty. However, rather than permitting me to get out when I should have gotten out, GD made me too scared to make a move, because I was afraid of living alone and having to rely on one income. If I got sick again — then what? Once I got it under control, firmly, that’s when I could make the right decision for myself. Fear was a huge motivating factor in my decision to stay in a situation that was quite untenable, and that I probably would have exited under normal circumstances.

It’s tough to make big decisions when you have this disease and it’s active. Really, really tough. A lot of people did not understand this, even those who were closest to me.

[KAM]

#1072113

Hi and thanks for the responses,

My wife is the one persueing the divorce. As far as GD goes she doesn’t want to have anything to do with it so it can’t have anything to do with our problems. I am pretty sure she won’t walk across the street to go to the conference yet along down to Charette. This site is for people that have real cases of Graves, not her. She is on one half of the lowest dose of Methimezole and her numbers have been stable for a year so GD has nothing to do with it. She had eye surgery for TED last June but that was just what it was. I have never been invited to an appointment with her endo. The balk of the information I have gotten is from reading books and the internet. She gets really mad when she sees me reading a book about GD because I am just trying to figure out what is wrong with her. Why does there always have to be something wrong with her We have our issues like every other married couple in the world and I am responsible for my share. The thing I hate the most about the disease is it makes you look at everything from a negative viewpoint. That is all the more difficult when it is coming from someone who has always been very positive.

We have seen two different counselors in the past year. Finding someone that understands this thing is not an easy thing to do. She has agreed to meet with one more one time, that will happen on Wednesday. Hopefully things will go well and she will go back because I am pretty sure she won’t keep looking.

We have also been dealing with a CD son for the past two years. That has taken a huge toll as well. He is doing really well right now so that takes a lot of pressure off. Let go and let God, one day at a time.

Thanks for the support,

Kam

[Author]

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